My incredible jazz evening -

[Bright Moments]

Earlier this evening i attended the 9th annual Melton Mustafa Jazz Concert at Florida Memorial College. The first half of the evening featured a high school jazz band, the FMC all-star alumni jazz band and the Melton Mustafa Orchestra. They played from 7pm to 8:30 and were great. In fact, i could have listened to the Melton Mustafa Orchestra all night long!

there was a half hour intermission and then the fun began!

the second half of the concert was called the "Jamming Jazz Session" and went from 9pm until 10:40.

here's the line up:

Billy Cobham - Drums

Abraham Laboriel - Bass

Larry Coryell - Guitar

Dr. Nathan Davis - Saxophone (Tenor & Soprano)

Melton Mustafa - Trumpet

James Moody - Saxophone

Jon Faddis - Trumpet

Monty Alexander - Piano

The octet started out with the Miles Davis tune "Full Nelson" and everyone stretched out their solos! Faddis hit those unbelievable high notes and Abraham Laboriel drove the crowd crazy with his antics.

Next was the Wayne Shorter tune "Fee Fie Fo Fum" (which due to a few technical glitches was the only weak number in the show)

Melton and Nathan bowed out for the next number "Anthropology" a nod to Charlie Parker. Billy Cobham's drum solo was spectacular.

Monty Alexander was AMAZING! He was "on" all night and for the next number he, Abraham and Billy played his "Songs of Freedom" composition a medley of Jamaican music including a bit of Marley's "No Woman No Cry."

The full ensemble resumed for a rendition of Nat Adderley's "Work Song" with an incredible soprano sax solo from Nathan Davis. Melton also shined on trumpet! Larry Coryell was superb all night and his fingers moved like lightning.

James Moody next performed "Moody's Mood For Love" which concluded with (are you ready for this) a rap song and a mock break dance by the legend.

The final number was Nathan Davis's "Dem Islands" and the artists left the crowd screaming for more!

The group was really tight and gave a GREAT show.

I thought that i would share it with my online friends!

B-)

[Chuck Nessa]

Sounds like a great evening. Thanks for sharing. Nothing like that around here tonight.

[Free For All]

That sounds like it was a lot of fun, BM!

I don't mean to horn in on your thread, but I had a enjoyable night, too.

The UMKC Jazz Festival was this weekend, and the concert tonight featured the student band with Nicholas Payton and Joe Chambers (and Bobby Watson of course). I was invited to play on a tune, and the band played a couple of my arrangements (Payton was featured on my arrangement of Infant Eyes- that was a treat!).

This was my first opportunity to meet Joe Chambers- I thanked him for contributing so much to what are some of my favorite Blue Notes- Mode for Joe, Andrew!, Schizophrenia, Et Cetera, All Seeing Eye, Adam's Apple, Contours, Components, Tender Moments, many Bobby Hutchersons, and that's just a few on that label only! (don't forget Fire Dance, Iron Men, Cassandranite, Mingus' Something Like a Bird and Me, Myself an Eye, etc., etc.)

Holy shit! Talk about an underrated heavy! Really nice guy, too.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and Stanley Cowell's Brilliant Circles, Rooster!

Edited February 6, 2005 by Free For All

[sidewinder]

B-)

Both of these events sound wonderful !

[Bright Moments]

sounds like a great evening FFA!

i forgot to mention that after the concert i got to meet and shake hands with monty alexander. he was so appreciative of the audience and gracious when my wife and i told him how much we enjoyed the show. he also told me he had a web page. check it out!

http://www.montyalexander.com

OH and i also forgot to mention that Nathan Davis said that his wife has written a book about the life of James Moody which will be published in March!!

B-)

Edited February 6, 2005 by Bright Moments

[catesta]

Good stuff (both)!

I was in search of live jazz lastnight. Took the lady out for a nice dinner, good eats, but no good music.

[TedR]

Bright,

Thanks for the run down on that concert......but I am SO upset that I missed it. I was at Melton's Jazz Fest at Florida Memorial exactly one year ago yesterday. Also had an unbelievable lineup.....Clark Terry, Billy Taylor, Benny Golson, and Mark Whitfield along with Jon Faddis. Got to chat with most of them afterwards and get some autographs. Got there early to watch them rehearse and interact.

And this will be my last year living in South Florida. I should have put that date on my calendar. I just plain forgot. For all jazz fans in Florida this annual event shouldn't be missed. And watching the awestruck high school/college musicians listening to these legends was priceless!

I think I'll go cry now.

[Ron S]

I was in search of live jazz lastnight. Took the lady out for a nice dinner, good eats, but no good music. 

On nights like that you gotta make your own good music.

[catesta]

I was in search of live jazz lastnight. Took the lady out for a nice dinner, good eats, but no good music. 

On nights like that you gotta make your own good music.

Well....., if you put it like that, the night was a complete success.

[Ron S]

I was in search of live jazz lastnight. Took the lady out for a nice dinner, good eats, but no good music. 

On nights like that you gotta make your own good music.

Well....., if you put it like that, the night was a complete success.

B-)

[Bright Moments]

I was in search of live jazz lastnight. Took the lady out for a nice dinner, good eats, but no good music. 

On nights like that you gotta make your own good music.

Well....., if you put it like that, the night was a complete success.

B-)

[chris olivarez]

Sounded like some good nights all around.